Councillor Quits Town – But Not His Seat: Calls for Conservative Councillor to resign after moving 60 miles away from Hartlepool..

Sources claim The Local Conservatives at Hartlepool Borough Council appear to be plotting their 'exit strategy', as a town Councillor moves almost 60 miles away from Hartlepool, with sources claiming he likely will not be seeking re-election next year.....

5th May 2025

A Hartlepool councillor has called time on living in Hartlepool for good, as its been reported he's now carefully planned his exit strategy out of the local political spotlight & will not be seeking re-election after moving almost 60 miles away from Hartlepool.

Councillor Andrew Martin-Wells, elected under the Conservative banner back in 2022, will reportedly not be seeking re-election in 2026 after quietly relocating almost 60 miles outside the borough. Whilst his departure from Hartlepool might suggest a swift resignation from public duty, Councillor Martin-Wells remains in his post – for now – and continues to draw his £8330 a year councillor allowance, despite attending fewer than half of all full council meetings and is likely to still do so right up until his seat is taken by another candidate in a years time...

Councillor Andrew Martin Wells has chalked up 'a less than impressive attendance record' to council meetings...

Its reported that Cllr Andrew Martin Wells has chalked up a less than impressive attendance record at Hartlepool Borough Council, made even worse since the Conservatives lost control of Hartlepool Borough Council a year ago, with Mr Martin-Wells attending just 3 out of 7 full council meetings. Just above the legal minimum required to avoid triggering an automatic by-election. And with just one more absence, Hartlepool taxpayers could have seen the seat declared vacant to be elected to a candidate willing to put in the time & the effort for the local ward constituents...

Ray Martin Wells, (Pictured Right) is also a former serving town councillor who stepped down in 2018

Andrew Martin-Wells is the partner of Ray Martin-Wells, a former Conservative councillor who stepped down from the same council back in 2018, where it now seems that Andrew may be quietly following suit – but without the courtesy of resigning outright, even as questions grow louder about his commitment to the job.

This comes at a time when political winds in Hartlepool are said to be shifting. With no local elections being held in 2025 (due to the town’s 'election by thirds' model), all eyes are now said to be on 2026 – where Reform UK is reportedly poised to challenge the old party duopoly, with Rural West long seen as one of the safest blue seats potentially in play & could be the first to fall to the Conservatives foes, Reform UK next year...

Sources close to both Labour and the Conservatives admit that Reform UK’s ground game is intensifying & has only been bolstered even further by the recent election of Amanda Napper in a by election which seen Labour trounced by Reform in what was considered one of their safest council ward seats and with the local Independents holding key influence, a coalition-powered takeover in just over a year isn’t out of the question.

Yet, even amid this political change, Hartlepool residents are said to be left asking the same old question: Why should taxpayers continue to fund councillors who no longer live here and barely show up for work...

Many Hartlepool Councillors (even some Independent's) are resound the fact they'll lose their seats next year to Reform UK

Martin-Wells’ case highlights a growing concern – that some councillors seem more interested in title than service. If public duty really meant anything, stepping down after moving away from the borough should be a given, not a matter of political convenience, especially after former Conservative Councillor Jill Mortimer, who won the Hartlepool Constituency Seat in 2021 was forced by an outcry of Labour Councillors in Hartlepool to stand down from her role as a councillor for Hambleton District Council when she won the Hartlepool Constituency By-Election triggered by the resignation of Labours disgraced MP Mike Hill, with critics claiming its the beginning of the end for the political 'old timers' at Hartlepool Borough Council, as Reform UK comes knocking at the door ready to bring both new blood & fresh ideas to Hartlepool in just 12 months time....

What do you think ?

Should Conservative Councillor Andrew Martin Wells have Resigned after moving nearly 60 miles away from Hartlepool ?

• YES
• NO